Frank Lucas

Mr. LUCAS

Mr. LUCAS. Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Ribble).

Mr. LUCAS. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from California (Mr. LaMalfa). Mr. LaMALFA Mr. Chairman, the changes made to SNAP are directed at reducing fraud, not at those in true need. And affecting inefficiencies that we've been dealing with for years, we have a chance to affect those inefficiencies right now in this year's farm bill, not 5 years from now. Without the changes proposed by the committee, and made with bipartisan support, Congress tells the American people that taxpayers should support fraudulent payments. Are we seriously debating a 2 percent reduction that centers on fraud elimination and ensuring that those we help actually qualify? This farm bill eliminates advertising for food stamps, eliminates recruitment bonuses and payments to lottery winners, all of which divert funds away from the program's actual goal. Any individual can apply or reapply by simply meeting the income and asset requirements. These are simple, commonsense reforms that save taxpayers billions and continue to protect those truly in need. I ask my colleagues to oppose this amendment.

Mr. LUCAS. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Conaway).

Mr. LUCAS. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Florida (Dr. Yoho).

Mr. LUCAS. I would note to my good friend and colleague that I think he is involved here in a good government measure, and I would encourage my colleagues to support the amendment.

Mr. LUCAS. Will the gentleman yield?

Mr. LUCAS. I would just note to the gentlelady I think by the expression on my ranking member's face we both agree this is a good- faith effort to try to make something happen. Therefore we would accept the language.

Mr. LUCAS. Will the gentlelady yield?

Mr. LUCAS. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself as much time as I may consume. The Emerging Markets Program, EMP, provides funding for technical assistance to aid public and private agricultural organizations in their efforts to improve market opportunities in low- and middle-income nations that offer viable markets for our U.S. commodities. This program truly focuses on promoting U.S. products to build repeat customers in markets where incomes are growing to the point that they can import high-quality products. Program resources may only be used to broadly support export of U.S. commodities and products, and promoting a company's own branded product is strictly prohibited. The Emerging Markets Program requires the participating entities to commit a portion of their own resources to seek export opportunities in emerging markets, and a priority is given to the applications which bring the greatest amount of cost-share funds to the project. Mr. Chairman, there are a number of studies about the amount of dollars that this generates in U.S. agricultural exports. It's one of those things that helps us move into markets that have the potential and the growing potential to buy our products. I believe it is a good use of resources, and it's subject, of course, to the oversight of the appropriators. I would ask my colleagues to reject the amendment rather respectfully; and with that, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. LUCAS. Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to the amendment.

Mr. LUCAS. Mr. Chairman, can I inquire about how much time remains on both sides on this amendment.

Mr. LUCAS. Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. Costa), a State with the most amazingly diverse agriculture.

Mr. LUCAS. Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Crawford), one of the subcommittee chairmen.

Mr. LUCAS. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Barrow).

Mr. LUCAS. Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to the amendment.

Mr. LUCAS. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. LUCAS. Mr. Chairman, I yield my remaining 1\3/4\ minutes to Mr. Green of Texas.

Mr. LUCAS. I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Fincher).

Mr. LUCAS. Mr. Chairman, how much time do I have remaining?

Mr. LUCAS. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Cummings).

Mr. LUCAS. Mr. Chairman, I wish to yield 1 minute to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Andrews). (Mr. ANDREWS asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. LUCAS. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from West Virginia (Mr. Rahall).

Mr. LUCAS. Mr. Chairman, I wish to yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. Garamendi).

Mr. LUCAS. Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Crawford).

Mr. LUCAS. I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from the great State of Texas (Mr. Conaway).